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What Affects Indoor Air Quality?

Elliott Horner, PhD, principal scientist at UL
Environment explains, "Indoor pollutants can be grouped into three different categories: gaseous,
particulate, and biological." And, Horner adds, each category has its own risks.

Breaking Down Those Three Types of Pollutants

1. Gaseous Indoor Pollutants

When pollutants are in the gaseous state, they produce dangerous side
effects. Minor ailments can include headaches and eye irritations. The pollutants can also trigger much
more serious consequences, such as cancer and even death.

The most worrisome gaseous pollutants include:

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Building materials and other household goods emit
these chemicals, such as formaldehyde. Common sources are wood, drywall, adhesives, paint, cleaning
products, furniture, and even home electronics.

3. Biological Indoor Pollutants

'Biological pollutants almost always involve dampness or water damage,'
Horner says. Humidity, water-line breaks, and flooding are frequent sources. They can cause infections and
worsen allergies and asthma, and often produce less-toxic VOCs that still are a cause for concern.
Biological pollutants include:

Detecting a Problem

You can see many particulate pollutants, such as dust, but detecting
the other types requires testing.

'There are several analytical sciences to detect issues in air quality,
but they are very expensive,' says Horner. "However, there are some clues that the average person can pick
up on, too."

Horner suggests paying attention to foul or musty odors or eye, skin,
or respiratory irritations among family members. Commercially available test kits can help you identify
potential problems. If you suspect you're dealing with a bigger problem, contact an environmental
consultant or your local or state health department for assistance.

9 Tips for Better Indoor Air Quality

Air pollution isn't limited to the outdoors. Moisture, odors, gases,
dust, and a host of other irritants can affect air quality indoors, too. Try these tactics to help freshen
your home's air so you and your family can breathe easy.

Open windows
- Most heating and cooling systems recirculate inside air. When weather
permits, give your system a break and let in fresh air. Open windows and place fans strategically to
help direct fresh air through.

Run exhaust fans
- Turn on the kitchen fan to vent cooking pollutants, and the
bathroom fan to curb mold-promoting wetness and fumes from cleaning products. Leave the fan running for
about 45 minutes.

Use doormats
- They help prevent dirt and other outdoor pollutants from making it
inside. Get two natural-fiber mats, one for inside and the other for outside your main entrance. Keep a
shoe-free home too.

Test for radon
- DIY test kits, available online and at your local home improvement
store, are inexpensive and easy to use.

Don't mask odors
- Scented candles and sprays can irritate lungs. Find the source of
the smell, get rid of it, then ventilate well until it's gone.

Use a dehumidifier
- Stay under 50 percent humidity to keep mold growth at bay. Clean
your dehumidifier regularly so it doesn't switch from humidity-reducing friend to mold-harboring foe.

Vacuum regularly
- You'll reduce the amount of dust and other pollutants released when
you walk around. Invest in a quality vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter,
especially good at trapping even tiny bits of dust and dirt.

Take it outside
- Painting, sanding, gluing - anything that generates particles, gases
or other pollutants - should be done outside. If outside isn't an option, open a nearby window and add
a fan blowing air out. Clean up after your project quickly and well.

Monitor your air quality
- Devices can monitor temperature and humidity to help you
understand how your home might affect your health.

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The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with State Farm®. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. Nor is it intended to effect coverage under our policy. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.